Water filter-separator



Fe'b. '23, 1.965

'Filed July 7,1 1958 C. H. MAY

WATER IFILTER-SEPARATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 11' INVENTOR. C/ifora/ H.

BY mi.

ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965 c. H. MAY 3,170,873

WATER FILTER-SEPARATOR Filed July 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

@fi/:foral H. Maj

ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965 c. H. MAY 3,170,873

ATER FILTER-SEPARA'IOR Filed July 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "f5 INVENTOR.

(ff/#ord H. May ai/M Mm ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965y c. H. MAY

'ATER FILTER-SEPARATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 7. 1958 ,griff/ `mvmvfon. H. May w a?. M4

C/iford ATTORNEY 3,l70,873 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 3,179,873 WATER FlLTER-SEARATOR Clifford H. May, Fairfax, Va., assigner to The Briggs Filtration Company, Washington, DC., a corporation of Maryiand l Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. '746,777 3 Claims. (Cl. 2id- 397) The invention relates generally to means for conditioning a liquid and more particularly is directed to apparatus or a system which serves to remove substantially all foreign matter, and particularly water, from liquids, such as light fuels and petroleum, solvents and distillates.

The apparatus is particularly designed and constructed for use in purifying fuels used in aircraft engines Where eflicient operation is of prime importance. The invention in actual use has proven exceptionally advantageous in filtering and dehydrating such fuels so as to positively assure freedom from engine failure or erratic operation, incomplete combustion, corrosion andV undue accumulation of carbon deposits frequently due to sludge and Water.

With the above in mind, a significant object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or system embodying improved principles of design and construction comprising, among other things, a tank having an entrance chamber, a lower water receiving chamber, a relatively large separating or circulating chamber, a plurality of filter means or assemblies extending longitudinally in the separating chamber for filtering out the water from the contaminated fuel and directing it to the lower chamber so that it will not liow into the separating chamber and out through an outlet means communicatively connected thereto. The subject apparatus affords a highly efficient iilter-separator-having a wide margin of safety factor in operation and substantially prevents carry over of water into the fuel outlet at high flow rates. v

United States Patent Office An 'important object of the invention is to provide a v header, a partition and ilter means secured therebetween to constitute an assembly for disposition in the tank.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a header with a baffle disposed in the entrance chamber to assist in distributing the unfiltered fuel to the filter means.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a partition with Va unique detachable device for sealing the partition in the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filter means comprising, among other things, a casing provided with iilter units or elements therein, including means, common to the casing and units, for simultaneously supporting the casing and holding or compressing the units.

A specific object of the invention is to provide the partition with a relatively large opening .whereby the filtered liquid initially in the lower chamber may find its way back to the separating chamber through this opening, as it is displaced by water settling in the lower chamber.

Also, an object of the invention is to provide a novel way of detachably sealing thelower extremities of the ilter assemblies with respect to openings or passages provided in the partition.

AA further object of the invention is to provide outlet means, embodying improved principles of design and construction.

-The structure embodying the subject invention also offers advantages with respect to manufacture and assembly, installation, durability, replacement of filter means,

structure showing the character of the filter units and mode of mounting same;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial horizontal section of a fuel outlet assembly;

FGURE 6 is an end View of the assembly shown in FGURE 5 FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial top View of a device employed in sealing a horizontal partition in place within the contines of a tank constituting a component of thev apparatus;

FlGURE 8 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 7; .Y y

FIGURE 9 is a top view of one of the plurality of filter vmeans or assemblies utilized in conjunction with the apparatus; and

FGURE l() is a section depicting the mode of attaching a part of the holding means to the partition.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus comprises, among other things, a tank generally designated l supported in a vertical position by legs 2, a horizontal header or mounting plate 3 detachably connected between the tank and a cover 4 to denne an upper inlet or entrance chamber 5, a horizontal partition6 connected to the header 3 dividing the tank into an intermediate separating or circulating chamber 7 and a lower chamber 8, a device generally designated 9 forsealing the partition in the tank, a plurality of individual filter means or assemblies generally designated l() secured between a header or deck plate and the partition and communicatively connected with the chambers. The fuel or other liquid to be filtered is introduced into the inlet chamber through an inlet 11 and liows through the filter means 10 where the water and other foreign matter aresubstantially separated from the fuel so that the filtered fuel may iow out through outlet means generally designated 12 provided in the intermediate or separating chamber and the water and foreign matter may gravitate between components of the filter means into the lower chamber as will 4be explained subsequently. The arrangement is preferably such that the fuel initially in the lower chamber as well as any ilteredfuel which should later escape into the lower chamber may be caused to flow back into the separating chamber when the water lever rises in the lower chamber. The fuel thus displaced passes through aV filtered passage or opening 13 in the partition for discharge through the outlet means 12. y

The upper end of the tank is provided with a reenforcing annular iiange 14 and the cover with a similar flange 15, which flanges are preferably respectively secured to the tank and cover by welding. The header or deckplate 3 is detachably secured between the iianges and interposed gaskets 16 by a plurality of bolts 17 which extend through holes provided therefor in the flanges, header and gaskets to seal the header in place.

A planar baffle member 18 is detachably secured inV a predetermined spaced parallel relationship to the header as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2 so as to promote distribution of the unfiltered fuel within'the entrance or inlet chamber and through an annular passage 19, defined by the peripheries of the baffle and cover, to the filter means 10. The baffle is preferably secured by means of screws or bolts 20 connected to the header and tubular spacers 21 disposed about the shanks of the screws or bolts.

As depicted in FGURES 1, 3 and 4, the header or deck plate 3 is detachably secured in axially spaced relationship to the partition 6 by a plurality of relatively long bolts 22, with the filter means interposed between the header and partition to constitute an assembly which may be readily detachably mounted in the tank.

The partition is primarily supported by the header and is sealed in the tank in a unique manner which will now be described before the filter means are considered in detail. The partition is preferably made in the form of a flat plate having a diameter somewhat less than the internal diameter of the tank as depicted in FIGURE 4 of the drawing. The upper side of the partition adjacent its periphery is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners 23 having ends 24 which are preferably secured to the partition by spot welding. These fasteners are formed to provide receiving means defined by a top wall 25 and side walls 26 as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 10, the purpose of which will be described subsequently. A flexible annular gasket 27 is detachably secured against the underside of the partition adjacent its periphery by an annular ring member 28 and screws 29 which extend through the member and gasket and threadedly connect with the partition as shown in FIGURE 4. The diameter of the gasket is somewhat greater than the diameter of the partition so that its free marginal annular edge portion may be flexed and interposed between the inner cylindrical surface of the tank and the device 9.

The device 9 is preferably of an expansible-contractible character and is unique in design and construction. It is preferably comprised of a resiliently flexible annular ring 30 having end extremities 31 and 32 which are secured in overlapping slidable relationship, a pair of helical springs 33 for normally urging the ring to an expanded condition and a plurality of L-shaped fittings 34 which are preferably spot welded to the inner side of the ring at circumferentially spaced locations for connection with the fasteners 23 on the partition.

As depicted in FIGURES 7 and 8 the end extremity 31 of the ring is provided with an abutment member 35 fixedly secured on its inner side at a location spaced an appreciable distance from the end of the extremity and the other extremity 32 is formed to provide an abutment 36. A loop or guide member 37 is attached to the eX- tremity 32 in spaced relation to the abutment 36 for re ceiving the extremity 31. The members 35 and 36 are preferably respectively welded to the extremities of the ring. The member 35 is preferably formed to include a pair of end portions 3S welded to the extremity 31 and an intermediate portion 39 which forms an abutment for the springs. The abutment 36 is preferably formed to provide a portion similar to the portion 39 of the abutment 35 for engaging the springs and an end portion 40 welded to the extremity 31. The ends of the springs 33 are interposed between and engage the abutments for normally urging the abutments and extremitiescarrying themin opposite directions to expand the size of the ring 30. When the ring is expanded or contracted the extremity 32 will slide against the outer surface of the extremity 31 and be guided by the loop member 37.

Prior to placing the assembly comprising the header, partition and filter means, into the tank, the device 9 is mounted on the partition and contracted so that inturned legs 41 of the fittings 34 will project into the receiving means of the fasteners 23, after which the assembly is lowered into the tank to cause the free annular edge portion of the gasket 27 to automatically fold back and forcibly engage the inner cylindrical surface of the tank through the agency of the springs 33 to firmly seal the partition in the tank.

The partition is provided with the relatively large opening 13, above referred to, which is preferably disposed below the fuel outlet means 12. A relatively short tubular part 42 has its upper end preferably secured in the opening by welding and a filter 43, preferably in the form of a fine or 100 mesh screen, is welded in the lower end of the member as best depicted in FIGURES 3 and 4. The partition is also provided with a plurality of openings 44 which are adapted to receive tubular members 45 extending from the filter means 10. Rings 46 are detachably secured to the underside of the partition by bolts 47 which extend through the rings and threadedly connect with the partition for compressing a gasket 48 about the end of each of the tubular members for sealing these members with respect to the openings 44 through which they extend. It will be noted that the opening in each of the rings is substantially conical in shape for camming each gasket into intimate engagement with the partition 6 and the tubular members 45 to produce sealed connections.

The bottom wall of the tank 1 below the partition 6 is preferably made concave and provided with a depending sump 49 into which the water and/ or foreign matter may flow or fall for release through a conduit 50 when desired.

The filter means 10 which will now be described may be designed and constructed in various ways but as exemplified herein they are primarily supported on the header or deck plate 3 and constructed as best shown in FIGURE 4. Each filter means includes, among other things, an inner perforated casing within which a pair of aligned lter units or elements 51 and 52 are preferably disposed and supported and an outer casing or shell concentrically surrounding the inner casing. The inner casing comprises a cylindrical wall 53 which is perforated with relatively small openings or passages 54, and a closed bottom wall 55 which supports the units. The upper end of the cylindrical wall 53 is preferably formed to provide an annular receiving flange 56 which interlocks with a receiving flange 57 formed on a ring member 58 having holes therein through which the shanks or bolts 59 extend.

The outer casing or shell of each filter means preferably includes an upper cylindrical member 69, a lower cup member 61, and an intermediate perforated cylinder 62 having its ends secured in overlapping relation to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower members. The outer casing also preferably includes a cylindrical screen member 63 having its ends secured in overlapping relation to the outer surfaces of the members and 61 to provide a cylindrical space between the perforated member 62 and the screen. The cylinder 62 is provided with holes or passages 64 which are of substantially the same s1ze as those in the cylindrical wall 53 of the inner casing. The upper end of the upper cylindrical member 60 1s provided with an outwardly extending radial portion 65 having a receiving flange 66 thereon which interlocks with the peripheral edge of the ring 58. The flange 65 1s provided with holes through which the shanks of the bolts 59 extend to secure at least the upper extremities of the inner and outer casings in a concentric spaced relationship to provide a cylindrical space or chamber therebetween. A gasket 67 is preferably disposed between the header 3 and the radial portion 65 of the member 62 and a gasket 68 between the ring 58 and a clamping member 69 to seal the casings in place. It will be noted that the opening in the gasket 68 through which the inner casing extends may be somewhat smaller in diameter than the opening in the gasket 67 through which the outer casing extends and that the ring member 58 supports the inner casing. The cup member 61 includes a cylindrical wall to which the members 62 and 63 are attached and a bottom wall 70 provided with an opening 71.

Each of the tubular members 45, above referred to, is preferably secured to the underside of the bottom wall 70 of each cup 61 in concentric relation about the opening 71 therein. The cup is supported on the partition and the tubular members extend through the openings 44 provided therefor in the partition 6.

The filter units or elements S1 and 52 may be designed and constructed in various ways but are preferably identical and each is comprised of fibrous glass material which is compressed into a relatively compact tubular cylindrical porous mass. lt will be noted by referring to FGURE 4 that the diameters ofthe units are somewhat less than the diameter of the inner casing so as to define an annular chamber or passage 72 therebtween which is concentric to longitudinal passages '73 provided in the units. Pairs of washers 74!- are respectively secured to the ends of each unit and a gasket '75 is disposed between the washers 74 at the upper end of the unit 51 and the clamping member 69, a pair of gaskets '76 between the washers at the opposed ends of the units and a gasket '77 between` the washers at the lower end of the unit 52 and the bottom wall 55 of the inner casing of the filter assembly. The clamping members, including the washers 7d and gaskets 75, 76 and 77 are each provided with an opening, which openings are axially aligned with one another and the longitudinal passages '73 in the units so that the unfiltered fuel may readily flow into the units from the inlet chamber 5 and then radially outward through the mass of fibers. The clamping members d@ and/or the bolts 59 serve to hold the filter units, washers, gaskets and casings in place and these components'may be readily removed for repair or replacement when required by merely running the bolts and/ or nuts thereof.`

The outlet means generally designated l2 for the filtered fuel will now be described. This means may be designed and constructed in different `ways but as exemplified, particularly in FGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings, it preferably Vincludes a tubular mounting '73,.a tubular member 79 provided with openings or passages Sti, and an outer casing 8l of fine mesh screen constituting a filter. These components are preferably connected together to constitute an assembly or unit whichfcan be readily detachably mounted in a tubular extension 82 extending outwardly from thetank and communicating with theV separating chamber 7 at a location below the header 3 and above the opening 13 in the partition 6. More particularly in this regard, one end of the tubular member 79 is secured in the inner end of the mounting 73 and the screen filter casing 81 is secured snugly about the member 79 and across the opposite end of the latter. The inner end of the tubularextension 82 is preferably secured by welding in an opening S3 provided in the cylindrical wall of the tank and the assembly just described is of gaskets 88 and 39 are mounted on the cylindrical por-v tion 3d ofthe mounting and held in axially spaced relationship by an annular spacer 9G and the gasket 39 engages the shoulder4 87.

A clamping ring 91 is also mounted on the outer eX- tremity of the mounting and engages the gasket SS. This ring is provided with a central tubular part 92 secured in place by a plurality of spokes 93. A screw 94 extends freely through the tubular part @Zand is threadedly connected to the part S4 in a manner whereby when the screw is tightened the ring gli, spacer 9i) and tubular mounting 7S will compress the gaskets 8S and b9 and cause them to expand intoy intimate engagement with the mounting and tubularV extension 32 to provide double sealed connections between the mounting and extension. By merely loosening the screw the complete assembly may be easily removed from the extension for repair or replacement, Y

In view of the foregoing, it will be manifest that when contaminated liquid such as fuel is introduced under pressure into the entrance chamber 5 through the inlet il, it will liow through the annular passage 19, due to the baffle 18, under the baflie and into the filter assemblies it). The filter assemblies afford a setup whereby the liquid in flowing radially outward through the filter units 5l and 52,the openings or passages 54 and 64 in the inner and outer casings and through the screen filters 63, will cause any water in the liquid to coalesce or form into small droplets within the filter units and pass therethrough along with the liquid through the openings 54 in the cylindrical wall 53 of the inner casing and into the annular chamber between the casings, from whence the liquid in flowing through the openings 64 in the cylinder 62 and screen filter 63 and into the separating chamber 7 will cause the water droplets to accumulate on the inner surface of this screen and indue course fall downwardly into the annular chamber defined by the casings S3 and et? and through the depending tubular member 4S of each assembly into the lower chamber and eventually into the sump 49 where it can be drained away through the conduit 5f). Substantially all of thewater separated from the liquid passes into the lower chamber through the members 4' but if any water should pass along with the filtered liquid through the screen filter 63 it will fall into the bottom of the separating chamber 7 and thence down through the screened opening i3 into the lower chamber. The filtered liquid after passing through the screen filters 63 of the filter assemblies eventually flows through the outlet means l2 and a conduit or vpipe (not shown) which maybe attached to the tubular extensionrSZ. Any foreign matter and/or water droplets which may be carried over with the filtered liquid Vand does not fall directlyV toward the partition will be arrested by the filter screen Si and eventually fall substantially directly into the opening f3 positioned below the screen Si.

Attention is directed to the fact that some of the filtered liquid may find its way into the lower chamber d through the tubular members 45 and the opening f3 in the partition 6 and if the water and/ or foreign matter in the lower chamber is at the level indicated at L in FlGURE l, the liquid will be maintained at thislevel due to the difference in the specific gravities of the water and fuel. in other words, any filtered fuel in the lower chamber forms what may be termed a barrier between the water in the lower chamber and the filtered fuel in the separatingchaniber 7 in order to further remove all y water and foreign matter from the liquid fuel. if the level of the water in the lower chamber should rise the t filtered fuel therein will of course rise and iiow back into the separating chamber through the opening i3 and eventually through the outlet means l2 for the use intended.

in view of the foregoing it will be manifest that iinproved means have been provided for filtering a liquid, such as a liquid fuel, for eliciently removing water and/or foreign matter therefrom; that a novel setup is provided for supporting the partition and clamping the filter assemblies between the deck plate and partition, including unique means for sealing the partition in the tank and the lter assemblies with respect to the partition so as to substantially retain the filtered fluid within the separating chamber; and that the filter assemblies and fuel oulet means embody principles of design and construction.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without 'departing from the spirit of the invention, and, therefore, l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself v to the exact ferm', construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. In combination: a verticalcylindrical tank having a bottom wall and an open upper end, a header secured across the open end, a cover having inlet means secured to the tank over the header and forming therewith an entrance chamber for unfiltered liquid containing some emulsitied Water, the improvement comprising: a partition sealed in the tank below the header and forming therewith and the bottom wall a separating chamber and a lower chamber, said header and partition each having at least one opening therein, at least one filter coalescer element secured in the separating chamber between the header and partition for coalescing the water in the liquid into droplets as the liquid ows therethrough, said filter coalescer element being sealed about the opening in said header and communicating therewith, screen means surrounding and spaced from the lter coalcscer element and communicating with the opening in the partition for directing the water droplets through the opening in the partition into the lower chamber while passing the filtered liquid into the separatingr chamber, means for sealing said screen means about the openings in the header and partition, outlet means disposed in the separating chamber for the filtered liquid, and water drain means disposed in the lower chamber for discharging the water.

2. A dehydrator and filter for fuels comprising, in combination, a cylindrical tank, a iirst annular partition disposed adjacent one end of the tank forming an inlet chamber having a fuel inlet and an outlet chamber having a fuel outlet, a second annular partition disposed adjacent the other end of the tank forming a water outlet chamber having a water outlet, a water and filter coalescer separator unit disposed between the first partition and the second partition, said filter coalescer separator unit communicating with the inlet chamber and provided with means for directing the water to the Water chamber while passing the filtrate to the outlet chamber, receiving means carried by the second partition and circumferentially spaced thereon, an annular ring having overlapping extremities and radially disposed means extending into the receiving means, inwardly projecting abutments carried by the extremities, an annular gasket interposed between the peripheral edge of the partition and the tank, said annular gasket being connected to the partition and disposed exteriorly and coextensive with said annular ring, and resilient means acting on the abutments to cause the ring to expand and force the gasket against the cylindrical tank toseal the second partition between the fuel outlet chamber and water outlet chamber.

3. In combination: a cylindrical tank, a first annular partition disposed adjacent one end of thc tank forming an entrance chamber having inlet means and an intermediate chamber, said intermediate chamber provided with a filtrate outlet, a second annular partition disposed adjacent the other end forming a Water outlet chamber having a water outlet means, a filter-water coalescer element disposed between the first partition and the second partition and communicating With said entrance chamber, fastening means carried by the second partition, an annular ring having overlapping extremities and means connected to the fastening means on the econd partition, inwardly projecting abutments carried by theV extremities, an annular' gasket connected in sealing relationship with said second partition and interposed betwecn the peripheral edge of the ring and the tank, said annular ring being interiorly coextensive with the annular gasket, and resiient means acting on the abutments to cause the ring to expand and force the gasket against the tank to seal said partition in the tank between the water outlet chamber and the intermediate chamber.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,517 Fenner June 17, 1890 930,401 Monteagle Aug. 10, 1909 1,000,563 Steedman Aug. 15, 1911 1,003,398 Britzius Sept. 12, 1911 1,211,344 Peters Jan. 2, 1917 1,222,363 Christensen Apr. 10, 1917 1,657,318 Price J'an. 24, 1928 1,673,751 Lawrence June 12, 1928 1,735,007 Lanes Nov. 12, 1929 1,765,097 Robertson June 17, 1930 1,945,524 Poehr Feb. 6, 1934 1,967,785 Schact uly 24, 1934 2,377,373 Robertson June 5, 1945 `2,597,475 Grise May 20, 1952 2,657,808 Mankin Nov. 3, 1953 2,667,273 Gardes ian. 26, 1954 2,703,188 Blanchette et al Mar. 1, 1955 2,754,005 Tursky July 10, 1956 2,811,218 Winslow Cet. 29, 1957 2,858,027 Fulton et al. Oct. 28, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,170 ,873 February 23, 1965 Clifford H. May

lt is hereby certa'inleclv that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belo1 Column Z, line 53, for "lever" read level column 4,- lne 38, for "or" read of Signed and sealed this 10th day of August 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. vSWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. A DEHYDRATOR AND FILTER FOR FUELS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CYLINDRICAL TANK, A FIRST ANNULAR PARTITION DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE END OF THE TANK FORMING AN INLET CHAMBER HAVING A FUEL INLET AND AN OUTLET CHAMBER HAVING A FUEL OUTLET, A SECOND ANNULAR PARTITION DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF THE TANK FORMING A WATER OUTLET CHAMBER HAVING A WATER OUTLET, A WATER AND FILTER COALSCER SEPARATOR UNTI DISPOSED BETWEEN THE FIST PARTIION AND THE SECOND PARTITION, SAID FILTER COALESCER SEPARATOR UNTI COMMUNIATING WITH THE INLET CHAMBER AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE WATER TO THE WATER CHAMER WHILE PASSING THE FILTRATE TO THE OUTLET CHAMBER, RECEIVING MEANS CARRIED BY THE SECOND PATITION AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED THEREON, AN ANNULAR RING HAVING OVERLAPPING EXTREMITIES AND RADIALLY DISPOSED MEANS EXTENDING INTO THE RECEIVING MEANS, INWARDLY PROJECTING ABUTMENTS CARRIED BY THE EXTREMEITIES, AN ANNULAR GASKET INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE PARTITION AND THE TANK, SAID ANNULAR GASKET BEING CONNECTED TO THE PARTITION AND DISPOSED EXTERIORLY AND COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID ANNULAR RING, AND RESILIENT MEANS ACTING ON THE ABUTMENTS TO CAUSE THE RING TO EXPAND AND FORCE THE GASKET AGAINST THE CYLINDRICAL TANK TO SEAL THE SECOND PARTITION BETWEEN THE FUEL OUTLET CHAMBER AND WATER OUTLET CHAMBER. 